FIMBank at record high

The price of FIMBank plc went up 3.7 per cent during the week to reach an all time high of US$1.95. Trading opened on Monday at US$1.88. Total turnover amounted to 46,113 shares changing hands over 13 deals. At the end of yesterday's session, bids for 1,000 shares at US$1.88 and offers of 255 shares at US$1.95 made up the best unsatisfied closing positions.

Meanwhile, FIMBank confirmed that further to a company announcement dated November 9, 2005 a total of 5,107,930 ordinary shares were issued to International Finance Corporation on November 28, 2005 representing 7.18 per cent of the issued share capital of FIMBank plc.

HSBC's share price went up by 13c during the week. The share price opened on Monday at Lm6.99 and closed the week at Lm7.12. Trading consisted of 40,408 shares changing hands over 65 deals. Best bids for 215 shares at Lm7.02 and best offers of 1,700 shares at Lm7.13 remained unsatisfied when yesterday's session drew to a close.

Bank of Valletta shares opened the week at Lm6.86 and gained 4c during the week to end yesterday's session at Lm6.90. Total turnover amounted to 64,813 shares changing hands over 131 deals. At the end of yesterday's session, best unsatisfied bids for 251 shares at Lm6.891 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 800 shares at Lm6.91.

In a company announcement issued on Monday, the board of directors of Bank of Valletta plc published the ordinary resolutions that are being presented for consideration at the 32nd annual general meeting to be held on Friday, December 16. These include the approval of the profit and loss account and balance sheet for the year ended September 30, 2005, the approval and payment of a gross dividend of 15c per share, the appointment of the directors and the reappointment of the auditors.

In a separate company announcement, the bank gave notice of the special business to be transacted at the said AGM mainly that the amount of Lm13,854,110.25 from the bank's retained earnings account is capitalised for the purpose of issuing 55,416,441 fully paid ordinary shares of a nominal value of Lm0.25 per share in respect of the one for one bonus share issue approved by the Directors to be allotted to shareholders on the register of members as at the close of trading on January 18, 2006.

Meanwhile, Maltacom shares opened trading at Lm1.699 on Monday and closed yesterday's session at Lm1.725. Trading during the week ranged between Lm1.731 and Lm1.69,9, with total turnover amounting to 121,687 shares. These shares changed hands over 67 deals. Following the close of business yesterday, best unsatisfied bids for 6,900 shares at Lm1.72 stood against best unsatisfied offers of 6,000 shares at Lm1.73.

On Monday, November 28, Malta International Airport plc announced that VIE (Malta) Ltd, a company registered in Malta, is the holder of shares in the company in excess of five per cent of the total issued share capital of the company. VIE (Malta) Limited is a subsidiary of Vienna International Airport.

The other equities which traded during the week follow, together with the range in which trading took place: 1,561 Lombard Bank shares at Lm7.10; 820 Middlesea Insurance shares at Lm3.40; 3,216 Simonds Farsons Cisk shares between Lm0.90 and Lm0.86; 60,000 International Hotel Investments shares between €0.85 and €0.799; 1,500 Plaza Centres shares at Lm0.64; 1,000 Global Financial Services shares between Lm1.25 and Lm1.249 and 736,931 Malta International Airport shares between Lm1.54 and Lm1.51.

Total Malta Government Stock turnover amounted to a nominal value of Lm545,000 being traded in 47 deals over 17 different stocks. Trading over the week in corporate bonds was made up of a total value of Lm57,073.

The Malta Stock Exchange share index increased by 74.791 points or 1.67 per cent over the week and now stands at 4,564.117.

Azzopardi Investment Management Limited is licensed by the MFSA to provide investment services, including stockbroking. The directors or related parties, including the company and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned. This article is only meant to provide information and is not intended to give investment advice. The value of securities and the currencies in which they are denominated may go down as well as up.

Report by Azzopardi Investment Management Limited, tel. 2131 3100, fax. 2131 8897 www.azzopardi.com